Live long and prosper: Pa. Star Trek tribute band is a must for Trekkies everywhere

Romulans, Vulcans, Klingons and Borgs agree -- the Roddenberries are just their cup of tea.

For the Philadelphia-based Star Trek band (named after the show creator Gene Roddenberry), music is the final frontier -- one they explore in their continuing mission to seek out new songs and new fandoms. They boldly go into a land of science fiction, fantasy and general nerd fandom with their mix of pop parodies, film scores and cabaret performances.

Now they’re releasing a second album, “Eat the Roddenberries,” and commemorating the occasion with a concert at World Cafe Live in Philadelphia at 8 p.m. on June 27. Tickets for the show range from $12 to $18 in advance and $15 to $20 on the day of the show. They can be purchased at Worldcafelive.com.

So what does one expect from a Roddenberries concert?

“The show is like a Star Trek-ified, sci-fi multimedia rock cabaret,” said Beth Kellner, who goes by Sister Spock in the band. She’s the group’s co-manager along with keyboardist Bill Tayoun (aka Spocknik). There’ll be dancers, skits and lots and lots of costume changes. “Star Trek: Deep Space Nine” actor J.G. Hertzler will be hosting in character as Klingon Chancellor Martok.

Expect to hear some famous scores from the “Star Trek” films, as well as a parody of Prince’s “Kiss” performed by Starfleet Commander William Riker. Expect nods to other fandoms, including “Battlestar Galactica,” “Lord of the Rings,” and even Star Trek’s mortal enemy, “Star Wars.”

“We try to unite the nerds,” Kellner said.

Tayoun summarized it as thus:

“It’s going to be a barrage of awesomeness.”

The fun extends past the concert though, with the lobby being filled with vendors hawking various Star Trek-themed wares, including tribbles you can adopt and take home.

“We just want people to have a good time,” Kellner said. “We hope they are having as much fun as we are.”

The band got its start at the Philadelphia Fringe Festival in 2011. The original act was just a performance of the song featured in the “Amok Time” episode where Kirk and Spock fight each other. As the song played, people came up to the microphone and shared their favorite Star Trek episode.

They realized they had something and by the next festival they had a proper show. Since then they’ve gone on to perform at the largest Star Trek convention in the world (Star Trek Las Vegas) after being personally invited by Gene Roddenberry’s son Rod.

Star Trek has had a resurgence of late, with the launching of a new series “Star Trek: Discovery” on CBS All Access in 2017 and the upcoming untitled series following Jean-Luc Picard (played by Patrick Stewart).

“It’s a wonderful time to be a fan and it’s more amazing time to be in a Star Trek band,” Tayoun said.

As for Star Trek’s staying power, Kellner pins fans adoration of the series to the power of the future world it depicts.

Star Trek is, the ideals of Gene Roddenberry -- it’s this democratic utopia. Everybody gets along, everyone wants to coexist and explore and meet new species and races,” she said. “It’s just a really wonderful ideal, I think. It’s a vision of the future and it gives people hope. It teaches acceptance.

“Plus, it’s just really cool,” she continued. “It’s just awesome. Gene Roddenberry created some pure magic.”